Portable laundry



PATENTED JAN. 5,1904.

W. A: ROBERSONQ PORTABLE LAUNDRY.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.1,1903.

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PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

W. A. ROBERSON.

PORTABLE LAUNDRY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1,1903

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UNITED STATES Patented Januar '5, 1904.

WILLIAM A. RO BERSON, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

PORTABLE L A'U N DRY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 748,986, dated January5, 1904.

I Application filed Septemberl, 1903. Serial No. 171,526. (No model.)

To all whom itmrty concern.-

Beitknown that I, WILLIAM A. RoBE'RsoN, acitizen oftheUnitedStates,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jeflerson and StateofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PortableLaundries, of which the following is a'specificati'on.

My invention relates to laundry apparatus for field or camp use, withthe object of rendering the various essential parts of such apparatusmore convenient of use and compact and easy in transportation.

To this end the invention comprises a casing adapted when turned,adjusted, or folded into one positionto contain and inclose the stove,tubs, and other receptacles and appliances of the laundry when not inuse and for the purpose of transportation and when adjusted into anotherposition to support such parts, including the stove and tubs, in themost convenient relations for use, enabling the laundry operations to beperformed in little space and with expedition. A portion ofthe inclosingcasing is also adapted to serve when the laundry is in use as one of thetubs or clothes-receptacles.

The invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafterset forth and claimed.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown inthe accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practicaleffect without limiting my improvements in their useful applications tothe particular construction which, for the purpose of illustration, Ihave delineated.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the laundry adjustedinto position for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same packed fortransportation and partly inclosed by the supporting frame or casing.Fig. 3 is a similar view of the laundry completely packed and inclosed.Fig. 4 is a plan view, with the top removed, of the casing, showing thebottom, sides, back, and front thereof in folded position. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the top. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a portion of thecasing, showing a fastening suitable for uniting the parts of thecasing.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the bottom of the casing, withwhich is connected the back piece 2 by rigid braces 3.

4 is the stove attached or fitted to the bottom 1 and extending acrossthe front end of the same. The stove is provided with a removable pipe5, having a suitable number of separable sections to give it therequired height.

6 6 are the sides of the casing, hinged on vertical axes to the edges ofthe back 2 by hinges 7 and adapted to be folded along and be attached tothe, side edges of the bottom, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, or to be foldedback at right angles to the rear edges of the bottom, as seen in Fig. 1.In the former position the sides aid in inclosing the stove and otherparts of the laundry hereinafter described, and 'in the latter positionthey act as supports for the washing and rinsing tubs 8 and 9. The tubsare preferably of metal, of the shape shown and of a length equal to thelength of the stove or distance between the folded sides 6. They areprovided with books 10, adapted to engage the top edges of the saidsides.

11 is the wringer, also adapted by clamps 12 to be attached to the sides6.

13 is thewfront, which connects the front edges of the sides 6 when thecasing is closed, and is also attached to the front edge of the bottom1.

14 is the-top piece of the casing in the form of a rectangularreceptacle adapted to in close the top edges of the parts 2 6 6 13, towhich it'may be attached to complete the inclosure of the laundry andalso adapted when the laundry is unpacked to serve as a receptacle forlinen.

15 is the boiler to be set on top of the stove and madebf a length toabout fillthe casing from one to the other of the sides 6.. The casingand the various tubs,pipes,&c., are so relatively proportioned that whensaid parts are assembled in the casing parallel with the stove they willoccupy the interior space up to the top 14 and keep one another in placeduring transportation.

When the casing is opened, the front 13 is adapted to be laid across thetop of the sides 6 and 6, and thus to hold them firmly in position whileopen, and at the same time it is itself adapted to be used as anironingboard or support for the clothes-receptacle or other neededarticles. For such purpose ICO it is provided with slots or holes 16,adapted to receive the hooks 10 of the washtubs and the clamps 12 of theWringer, so as to hold the entire open structure in a firm position.

The front 13 is provided with hooks 17 or their equivalents to engagethe sides 6 to keep them in place. I have shown fastenings for unitingthe various abutting parts of the casing comprising staples 18, hasps19, and hooks 20, pivoted on the hasps, Fig. 6. Such fastenings foruniting the sides and bottom are shown at 21, for the front and bottomat 22, and for the front and sides at 23. The top after being placedover the back, front, and sides, so as to inclose them, is secured bythe fastenings 24, Fig. 3. Other suitable fastenings than thoseillustrated may be employed.

What I claim is- 1. In a portable laundry the combination, with thelaundry appliances, of the casing supporting and inclosing saidappliances, said casing having the bottom and back rigidly connected,aremovable top, a removable front, and sides 6, 6 hinged at their rearedges to said back and adapted to be folded rearward to points behindthe back, substantially as set forth.

2. In a portable laundry the combination of the base 1, the back rigidlybraced thereto, the sides 6 hinged to said back, and athooks adapted tobe laid across the top of the,

sides, 6 and 6, when theyare opened out and folded back, and thus tohold them firlnlyin position when opened and in use as supports for thetubs and wringer, while at the same time the front, 13, is itselfadaptedto be used in that position as an ironing-board, or as a support for theclothes-receptacle or other needed articles.

4. In a portable laundry apparatus the combination of the tub thebottom, back and hinged sides of the inclosing casing, and the frontwhich engages the front edges of the sides when the casingis closed andwhich ongages the top edges of the sides to form a table when the casingis opened, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. ROBERSON.

Witnesses:

W. L. DOOLAN, JOHN C. DOOLAN.

